360-degree videos, also known as immersive videos or spherical videos, can be effective training tools that allow participants to engage with concepts in unexpected ways. This article explores the potential for using 360-degree video for eLearning experiences.
Differences between 2D video, 360-degree video, and VR
2D video is a “flat” representation of a place, topic, event, or object on a 2D screen, such as a movie or instructional video. In contrast, 360-degree video is a “realistic” representation of the world that can be experienced by a participant wearing a virtual reality (VR) headset or watching on a 2D screen (smartphone, laptop, etc.) via YouTube, Vimeo, or other video players.
VR experiences use animated computer graphics, 360-degree videos, or a combination of both. Animations, interactive prompts, and other visual effects can be incorporated into 360-degree videos. While animated VR is like an immersive video game, 360-degree video captures real places that actually exist. 360-degree video feels real, inevitably causing participants to duck, attempt to physically walk around virtual objects, or feel strong emotions and connection to the characters. Participants even become co-creators, interacting with virtual characters, objects, and events, albeit to a lesser degree than with entirely animated VR experiences.
Examples of 360-degree eLearning videos
Many companies and schools are already successfully using 360-degree video for training purposes. Research studies, particularly in medicine, have shown that simulations offer another effective teaching/learning tool for developing the psychomotor domain as participants learn by doing. In one research study, nursing students in Sweden participated in an interactive 360-degree learning experience to better understand patient trauma treatment and identify best practices for interactive video. In another research study, climbing students reported that participating in 360-degree climbing training scenarios helped them “learn everything better and to improve [their] skills.”
Using 360-degree video for eLearning
First, determine if 360-degree video is the right medium for your project. Define your learning objective/s and how they can be accomplished using 360-degree video. For example, if you want visitors to explore or experience a large, dangerous, expensive, or hard-to-reach environment (e.g., disaster scenes, flight training), then 360-degree video might be a good fit for your learning objective.
Second, know that in a 360-degree video learners are not just passive observers, they’re also the protagonists of a dynamic and interactive story. Learners participate in unique and personalized lessons that change and respond to the learners’ decisions and behaviors. In order to maximize learning, 360-degree training simulations must use a nonlinear design approach with engaging stories that put learners into the shoes of the protagonist.
Lastly, consider explorability and rewatchability. How active does a participant need to be? How many times will a visitor want or need to revisit an experience to learn everything in the objective? How can exploring and rewatching be used to achieve the learning objective/s?
Developing 360-degree eLearning videos
You’ll need several items to create your 360-degree studio, including: 360-degree cameras, microphones, computers, memory, and other equipment (i.e., tripods, lighting, extension cords, etc.). There are numerous 360-degree cameras on the market, ranging in price from affordable (Ricoh Theta, GoPro Fusion) to mid-range (Vuze) to expensive (GoPro VR rig with 6+ GoPro cameras). Our advice: use the camera that you’re most comfortable with and that meets your budget, because gear doesn’t matter that much. The learning experience and story are what matters.
Most 360-degree cameras are made by separate companies, using separate platforms, in separate ecosystems. As a result, you’ll likely experience a new learning curve for producing videos with each different camera you use because each has a unique process and format for importing/exporting, viewing, editing, and publishing files to video platforms. Ultimately, you’ll need to save your files as one of the formats compatible with video editing software such as Adobe Premier Pro or VSDC. To create a more personalized and interactive lesson, you’ll need to add 3D animations and other content to your videos with game engine software. This process can be a bit tricky, however, and may require some research and experimentation to get it right.
For example, many people use video editing software (e.g., Premiere Pro, VSDC, etc.) to edit, in detail, the 360-degree video elements such as precision timelines, audio layers, and myriad video effects and filters. Technically, you can add text to your 360-degree videos with video editing software, but it adds flat, 2D words to the spherical virtual surface, which causes the corners and edges of the text to curve and distort somewhat. After preparing a 360-degree video with a basic video editor, creators will then open the file with game engine software to add text, interactive prompts, and other graphic elements for learning.
Unity is perhaps the most popular game engine for creating 360-degree video experiences. It has solid 360-degree video capability, offers some training materials, and is supported by many individual users who create related how-to videos and blog posts. Unreal Engine 4 (UE4), perhaps Unity’s biggest competitor, also supports 360-degree videos. However, 360-degree video image resolution in UE4 is notoriously poor, and the functionalities will be more difficult to learn due to minimal documentation, tutorials, and support for creating these experiences in UE4.
Conclusion
Because the technology is so new, there are no set standards for developing eLearning experiences with interactive 360-degree video and no limitations on what’s possible. However, when 360-degree learning experiences are interactive, they give participants the ability to explore and become the protagonist, turning traditional teaching methods and narratives upside down.
Let us know in the comments below what 360-degree learning experiences you’ve worked on. How did it go?